Appabattjs for handling asphalt and similar material



Sept. 11, 1928.

W. H. CADY ET AL APPARATUS FOR HAULING ASPHALT AND. SIMILAR MATERIALFiled Aug. 4, 1922 40 construction.

Patented Sept. 11, 1928.

. UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

'WALTER H. CADY AND CHESTER RAKE, OF BROOKLINE, MASSACHUSETTS, AS-

SIGNORS TO THE FLINTKOTE COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, CQB'PORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS APPARATUS FOR HANDLING ASPHALT AND SIMILARMATERIAL;

'Application filed August 4, 1922. Serial No. 579,658.

7 This invention relates'to a method and apparatusto facilitateemptyingtanks des gned to hold material such as asphalt, which 1s solidor nearly solid at ordinary temperatures, and which must be heated torender it this means a free discharge for the tank contents is insuredas fast as it becomes sufficiently heated to flow. This action ispreferably further aided by some form of heating means for the tank. 5For a more complete understanding of this invention reference may be hadto the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a fragmentary plan ofthe central portion of the tank of a car, the manhole being removed andthe position of certain parts indicated by dotted lines.

Figure 2 is a vertical section on line 2-2 of Figure 1. 7

Referring to these figures, 1 indicates the shell or body of a tank ofany suitable confstruction having at its top a cylindrical extension 2terminating in a manhole S'through which the tank may be filled andwhich may be closed by a cover of any suitable or usual Beneath themanhole and through the bottom of the tank is the usual dischargeopening 4 of smaller diameter than the manhole. For the purpose ofheating the material in the tank so that it may flow, steam coils orheating units may be built therein. These heating units may take variousforms, but as shown comprise a pair of segmental headers 5 positionedadjacent the bottom and side walls of the tank in vertical planes eitherside of the manhole, these headers having extending therefrom inopposite directions a series of heating pipes shown at 6, toward theends of the tank.

For the purpose of carrying out the method of this invention, a pair ofguide pieces 10 may be made fast in any suitable way to the tankinterior extending on opposite sides of the discharge opening. at inver-. tical parallel relation and terminating within the cylindricalextension 2. Passed between these guides 10 is shown a tubular member 11of smaller diameter than the manhole and of larger diameter than theoutlot which may have fixed thereto-guide fins or lugs 12 looselyembracing the guide pieces 10. Such guidefins may be located along thelength of the tube 11 as maybe desired, as shown these fins beingpositioned adjacent opposite ends thereof. At its upper end the tube maybe providedwith upstanding ears l3 perforated as at 14 for the receptionof a hoisting hook by which the tube may be raised upwardly so that itslower end is removed above the base of the tank at the discharge opening4, the tube when in its lower position surrounding this dischargeopening closing off the tank ends therefrom and leading directlytheretoward from the manhole. Slidable within the tube may be placed acylindrical plug 14 substantially filling the same so as to prevent theentry of the material with which the tank is loaded into the tube 11.The tube and cylinder 1st" being in the position shown in Figure 2, thetank is filled with the material which at ordinary atmospherictemperatures is solid or very nearly solid.

WVhen it is desired to unload the tank the plug 14" is removed, itsupper end having for this purpose a hook 15 made fast thereto. Materialsuch as is contained in the tank, but at a high temperature so as to bemolten is then poured through the tube 11, heat therefrom beingconducted through the walls of this tube and serving to soften thematerial in the tank adjacent thereto. This heated molten materialpasses readily through the discharge opening of the tank, since a freepassageway is formed thereto by the tube when the tank is filled. As thematerial about the tube becomes molten from the heat conducted theretothrough the walls of the tank, the tube is raised somewhat from the tankpermitting this molten material to find its way beneath the end of thetube, mingling with the heated material poured therethrough and flowingofi therewith. The material of the tank at the same time may be heatedby means of the heating means such as the units 5 and 6 so that thematerial remote 'lroln the tube may flow thei'etowaifd as the materialadjacent the tube dis- 5 charged that it may become more highly heatedand fluid so as to be readily discharged.

Havingthus described. an embodiment of this invention it should beevident to those skilled in the art that many changes and modificationsmight be made therein without departing from its spirit or scope asdefined by the appended claims.

We ttlailn: '1. A tank having alilling opening through its upper portionand a discharge opening *t r'ollgh its base bei'ieath said fillingopening, guides extending between said upper portion and baseadjace'ntsaid openings and 'zwtube slit lable on said guides and defining apassage betweensaid openings.

2. ik tankhaving a filling opening through its upper portion and adischai'ge"opening timrough its base beneath said filling opening,-giiiiles+ extending between said upperportion "and base adj acent saidopenin gs, a tube slid able on said guides 'and defining a passagebetweensaidopening, and a removable plug fol-substantially filling saidtube.

3. Axtank having a filling opening through its upper portion and adischarge opening through its base beneath said filling opening, guidesextending'between said upper portion and base adjacent said openings, atube slidable on said guides and defining a mssa'ge between saidopening, and a single removable plug for closing oflf said tube forsubstantially its entire length.

"fl. A tank having a filling openingtln'ough itsuppei' portion and adischarge opening through its base beneath said filling opening, guides"extending between said upper portion and base adjacent said openi1'1gs5a cylindrical tube slidable on said guides and defining a passagebetweensaitl openings,

and a closed cylindrical ineinbei' fitting within I tube and a; endingsi il'istantially the ent are iength of the tube.

In testimony whereof We have aflixed our signatures.

l/VA-LTER H. CADY. CHESTER RATTR,

